CFT to celebrate its 100th Anniversary at Convention 2019

2019 is a special year for our union – the CFT will celebrate its founding 100 years ago. In our centennial year, the CFT Convention will be held March 22-24 at the lovely Millennium Biltmore in Los Angeles. Plan now to be part of the #CFT100 celebration!

The Convention is open to all CFT members, but only elected delegates can vote. It is the Federation’s highest governance body, where delegates shape union policy and positions on issues affecting all members. In 2019, the Convention will elect officers of the CFT including President, Secretary Treasurer and 24 Vice Presidents.

General Sessions are packed with speakers, awards, and debate on union policy. The CFT division councils meet and there will be workshops on a wide range of topics. There’s time for fun as well, with social events being held throughout the three-day event.

Step-by-Step PrepArationConvention Call:Complete step-by-step preparations for Convention including legal requirements for delegate election and seating, committee service and much more. (pdf, 6pp)

100TH ANNIVERSARY GALA DINNEROn Saturday evening, the CFT will host a gala dinner to commemorate our 100th anniversary. The dinner will be open to all delegates, who can look forward to a gala event featuring music and special guests.

About our pdf forms: Many of our forms are fillable pdf. Download only the ones you need and fill them out electronically in the free software Adobe Reader. Note: If your browser is set to view pdfs, you will need to download the forms first and then open them in Adobe Reader. This will ensure that you are able to fill out and save your completed documents.

ABOUT AWARDS PRESENTATIONS

Ben Rust Award is the CFT's highest honor and will be presented at the gala.

Pride of the Union Awardshonor both EC/K-12 Council and Community College Council members for local union leadership and activism.

DEADLINES

Hotel room reservation requests

February 25

Child care requests

February 25

Advance order delegate t-shirts

March 3

Local delegate and alternate lists due

March 8

Division Council membership due

March 8

Committee service choices

March 8

Schedule

Thursday, March 21

Saturday, March 23

5 pm

Registration

7:30 am

Constituent Group Discussions

7 pm

Rules Committee

8 am

Registration

Friday, March 22

9 am

General Session II

8 am

Registration

1:15 pm

Workshops

9 am

New Delegate Orientation

3 pm

General Session III

10 am

General Session I

6 pm

Voting

1:30 pm

Workshops

6:30 pm

Gala Reception

2:45 pm

Workshops

7 pm

100th Anniversary Gala Dinner

4 pm

Convention Committees

Sunday, March 24

6 pm

Union Social

7 am

Voting (if runoff is necessary)

7 pm

Division Councils

7:30 am

Awards Breakfasts

9 am

General Session IV

Hotel Room ReservationsNew this year! The CFT will be making room reservations at the Biltmore for all delegates and guests attending the CFT Convention. Local unions will be able to reserve rooms for their entire delegations. The room rate is $218 per night. If you have any questions about room reservations, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The deadline to return your rooming requests to the CFT Sacramento office is February 25.

By plane: The closest airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It is 18 miles from the airport to the Biltmore. By car: The Biltmore is situated in downtown Los Angeles. Find driving directions online by using the hotel address: 506 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071.Note: The Los Angeles Marathon is Sunday, March 24, and runners will pass through downtown L.A. near the Millennium Biltmore. Please take this into consideration when making travel plans.

1. Each member shall have a reasonable opportunity to be nominated as a delegate.

2. Notice of election of delegates shall be mailed to each member at least 15 days in advance of the election. Notice may be contained in the local union newsletter as long as it is mailed to the last known address of each member.

3. Election shall be by secret ballot.

4. Results shall be published and records (including ballots) kept for one year.

5. The president or other elected union officer may serve as a delegate without a special election provided:

• He or she was elected to office by secret ballot according to provisions of the Landrum-Griffin Act, and,• The local constitution or by-laws state that one of the duties of office is to be a delegate to the CFT Convention.

Although many locals divide expense allocations equally by common practice, the Labor Department has ruled that expenses need not be distributed equally among the delegates, provided that the rule for allocating the expenses is passed before the nomination of candidates. The guiding principle to follow is that the rule must be reasonable and able to be uniformly enforced.

Campaign Rules for State Officer ElectionsThis document outlines the rules that shall govern election campaigning. The rules are meant to ensure fairness, keep order, and preserve the integrity of the election. In general, candidates should try to maintain “the spirit of the campaign” which is an atmosphere of friendly competition with others and respect for the election process. A copy of this document shall be distributed to all candidates. Candidates may also download the Declaration of Candidacy.

Guidelines for Writing Effective ResolutionsWhen writing resolutions on topics that impact our union and the work we do, please take the time to research your whereas’s and resolves and write the resolutions as clearly as possible. It’s important that delegates cast informed votes at CFT Convention, so please follow these guidelines for writing effective resolutions.

• Read the requirements for submitting resolutions described in the Convention Call. Follow the resolution format by using the Resolution Template below.• Write your resolution assuming that readers know nothing about the subject, why there is a problem, and what role the CFT should play in its solution. Please spell out names of organizations and proper nouns on first use.• Use the “whereas” clauses to educate readers about the problem the resolution addresses. Be accurate in your facts and both succinct and complete in your presentation of them.• Be sure the action you ask the CFT to take is an appropriate one. For example, if your concern is one that falls within the scope of negotiations, don’t ask for legislation to take the place of local bargaining. • If your local adopts a resolution that came from another organization, take the time to modify it for CFT’s consideration. Don’t submit resolutions that are addressed to other organizations.• Document that the resolution was approved for submission at a meeting of your local’s membership or executive board.

ADA AccommodationsThe CFT will make every effort to assist in ensuring that accommodations at the Millenium Biltmore are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and will attempt to accommodate any special needs so that delegates may participate fully in Convention activities. If a delegate anticipates a special need ensuing from a disability, the delegate should call the CFT Bay Area office at (510) 523-5238 before the deadline of February 8.

Child Care RequestsChild care can be made available for the children of delegates according to the criteria adopted by the Executive Council. To learn more, or to notify CFT of child care needs, return the Child Care Request form on the website, or call the CFT Bay Area office at (510) 523-5238 by February 25.

Division Council MembershipPlease indicate the number of members from your local union in each division of the CFT. If the CFT does not receive this form from a local union, it will use allocation from the previous year. Return this form by March 8.

Committee Service for DelegatesAll proposed constitutional amendments and resolutions are first reviewed by one of the Convention committees. These committees are given the task of recommending whether an amendment should be adopted, whether a resolution needs modification, what action the Convention should take concerning the resolution, and the order of importance for resolutions to be considered. All delegates are encouraged to participate in these important sessions to ensure a democratic Convention process.

Each delegate who wishes to serve will be assigned to one Convention committee. The CFT President shall appoint delegates to committees based on delegates’ expressed choices, giving weight and consideration to balance and to service on standing committees of the Federation. Members of CFT standing committees who are delegates shall be appointed to the corresponding Convention committees to coordinate the work of those bodies. No more than 20 percent of committee membership may be from one local. Only assigned members of the committee may debate and vote upon resolutions before the committee.

The CFT President shall appoint Convention committee chairs and members of the Constitution Committee with the approval of the Executive Council. The deadline for delegates to select committee service is March 8.

Delegate and Alternate RostersLists of elected delegates and alternates must bear the signatures of the president and the secretary of the local, and the seal of the local. Your local’s list must be received at the CFT Bay Area office by March 8.

Visitor and Guest RegistrationVisitors and guests to CFT Convention must register with the CFT. Please return this form, which requires the name and signature of the sponsoring delegate or staff member.

Meal Events Advance PurchaseDelegates and local unions may purchase tickets online for meal events being held during the CFT Convention, including our 100th Anniversary celebration. You will need to pay by credit card. Each meal event has a separate link. You may purchase single tickets or multiple tickets in one simple and fast transaction.

After you complete the purchase, your pdf tickets will be emailed immediately. (Note that the sender is Eventbrite, not the California Federation of Teachers.) Please print your tickets and bring them with you to Convention.

100th Anniversary Gala Dinner: On Saturday evening, March 23, the CFT will host a gala dinner to commemorate our 100th anniversary. The dinner is open to all delegates, who can look forward to a celebratory event featuring music and special guests. The reception starts at 6:30 pm and dinner begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets cost $75.

Community College Council Awards Breakfast: EC/TK-12 Council Awards Breakfast: On Sunday, March 24 at 7:30 am, the EC/TK-12 Council honors outstanding local union activists at its annual Pride of the Union Awards breakfast. Tickets cost $35.

EC/TK-12 Council Awards Breakfast: On Sunday, March 24 at 7:30 am, the EC/TK-12 Council honors outstanding local union activists at its annual Pride of the Union Awards breakfast. Tickets cost $35.

Delegate CredentialsConvention credentials must bear the signatures of the president and the secretary of the local, and the seal of the local. Credential cards can be downloaded from the CFT website. Each delegate must bring a credential card to Convention registration on March 21, 22 or 23.